“Now, back to the valley as fast as we can,” said Dale, as he dragged his ice-axe out of the crack and threw the rope over his shoulder, and glanced round at the sky. “Got the lanthorn and string?”
“Yes,” replied Saxe; “but we cannot get there before night.”
“We cannot get any farther than the camp before dark, my boy,” said Dale sadly. “It is impossible to go on then. We must wait there till daybreak, and then go for help.”
“One minute, sir,” said Saxe; but it was three or four before he could go on.
“Yes,” said Dale.
“I only wanted to ask whether you think he is dead!”
“I’d give five years of my life, boy, to be able to say no; but I cannot!”